Carts of Darkness
2008
59 min
Coming soon
Murray Siple's feature-length documentary follows a group of homeless men who have combined bottle picking with the extreme sport of racing shopping carts down the steep hills of North Vancouver. This subculture shows that street life is much more than the stereotypes portrayed in mainstream media. The film takes a deep look into the lives of the men who race carts, the adversity they face and the appeal of cart racing despite the risk. Shot in high-definition and featuring tracks from Black Mountain, Ladyhawk, Vetiver, Bison, and Alan Boyd of Little Sparta.
This work deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
Details
Murray Siple's feature-length documentary follows a group of homeless men who have combined bottle picking with the extreme sport of racing shopping carts down the steep hills of North Vancouver. This subculture shows that street life is much more than the stereotypes portrayed in mainstream media.
The film takes a deep look into the lives of the men who race carts, the adversity they face and the appeal of cart racing despite the risk. Shot in high-definition and featuring tracks from Black Mountain, Ladyhawk, Vetiver, Bison, and Alan Boyd of Little Sparta.
This work deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised.
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writerMurray Siple
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directorMurray Siple
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producerTracey Friesen
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editorMichael Brockington
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director of photographyChristian Bégin
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1st unit cinematographerKevin Shepit
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2nd unit cinematographerMike Mckinlay
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director consultantChristian BéginNathaniel Geary
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sound recordistPaul Vance
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sound supervisorJamie Mahaffey
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additional camera operatorMichael Prangnell
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additional editingJeremy Petit
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production assistantPeter BlueByron BriscoShin CamposSamuel McKinlayShan PowellJana Wiltsey
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production internDamian Kuehn
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motion graphicsMike Bishop
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graphic artistElisa Chee
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researcherPaula Sawadsky
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stills photographyScott PommierMurray Siple
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transcriptionPamela Pellegrini
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creative consultantNettie Wild
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dialogue editorSusan Mahaffey
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re-recording mixerJamie Mahaffey
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mix facilityThe Mix Room
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digital film central coloristAndrea Chlebak
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digital imagingDigital Film Central
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colour correctionDigital Film Central
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production coordinatorJennifer Roworth
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technical coordinatorWes Machnikowski
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production supervisorKathryn Lynch
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marketing managerKay Leung
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program administratorBruce Hagerman
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executive producerRina Fraticelli
Education
Ages 17 to 17
Health/Personal Development - Mental Health/Stress/Suicide
Health/Personal Development - Substance Use and Abuse/Addiction
Media Education - Documentary Film
Social Studies - Social Policies and Programs
Before viewing, ask students to consider stereotypes of homeless people. Compare responses after viewing. Initiate debate: is there a legitimate place for the homeless in a healthy society? to what degree are these men free? Is their self-appointed job a valid one? Using various strategies (Thinking Hats, Four Corners, Value Lines), provoke thinking and writing about the ethical and social issues in the film, and how they apply to local communities.
